This is a transcript of a conversation between Shelagh Fogarty of LBC and a caller called Jonathan on 14/02/24. Jonathan had rung to criticise Shelagh for giving her opinion on her radio talk show. This conversation has since become notorious for being a man trying to tell a woman what she can and cannot talk about, even saying to her he would tell her when she could speak. I have put the link to the YouTube recording of the conversation on the worksheet, because it is best to listen to the original conversation in order to understand some of its pragmatics. There are two extracts followed by eight discussion points (to be done either verbally or in writing) drawing on linguistic theory from Zimmerman and West, Grice, Fairclough, Dale Spender and others. This is very useful in preparing for AQA paper 2 section A when considering some of the main theories for Language and Gender (particularly Dominance theory). It is also great for class discussion focusing on attitudes to women’s speech.

This is a PP, plus style models, for preparing students for the 2021 paper 2 paper, question 5. It focuses on examiner expectations with close attention to the mark schemes. It asks students to do a couple of short tasks as well as look at two style models to get them to think of the kind of techniques used in writing to argue. Finally, students should complete the question in exam conditions and then 1) get feedback from a partner and 2) ideally have it marked by the teacher.

A comprehensive creative writing scheme I created to prepare students for Question 5 of paper 1, GCSE English Language both descriptive and narrative writing. My approach was to begin with reading extracts from interesting texts - e.g. The Thirty-Nine Steps, Great Expectations, I’m the King of the Castle and From the Here and Now (Ann Brashares) thus reinforcing skills for Section A of this paper. There are fun writing exercises as warm-ups (these can be successfully extended), a focus on technique and structuring and clear links with the mark scheme. Most of the assessment is peer assessment, although I often use a shared word document so that students can share their work and comment on each others. The final task is a GCSE task which would ideally be marked by the teacher.

PowerPoint explaining Child Directed Speech for the Child Language Development question (Paper 1 Section B). There are two video examples to watch alongside lists of features of CDS so that students can identify them. Also plenty of examples of theorists and their ideas about CDS. Very useful for exploring Bruner’s LASS.

This resource is a grid to be cut up and given to each student. It has the principal theorists for Child Language Development (such as Chomsky, Pinker, Aitchison, Vygotsky, Piaget) and can be used as a simple revision device, or as a way into constructing a well-supported discursive essay about CLD. Some guidance is included for the teacher.

A comprehensive workbook for introducing analysing spoken texts for A level English. It starts with transcribing, gives a full table of definitions of key features and introduces main theories such as Face and Grice’s Maxims alongside plenty of transcripts. Activities range from discussions to essay-writing. Very useful for preparing students for understanding the way speech works and leads nicely into Paper 2, Section A topics of accent and dialect, occupation and gender.

Document detailing the specifics of the manner and place of articulation, for analysing the phonology of language acquisition. Very useful for developing AO1 skills (apply linguistic methods and terminology; apply different levels of language analysis) and for understanding sound production. Can also be used for the Accents and Dialects unit.

This is a PowerPoint I put together for preparing the READING section of paper 2, November 2020. The paper asks student to examine two texts about mountaineering. It takes students through questions 1 - 4, focusing on question requirements and allowing them to practise key skills whilst familiarising them with the mark-scheme. Vocabulary from the exam and the mark-scheme is explored as well. There are tasks throughout and opportunities for peer assessment but the final question should be marked by the teacher. It should take 2-3 lessons. It might to a good idea to print slides 6, 18 and 23 for students so that they have a copy of the mark schemes for qs 2,3 and 4. I am including the question paper, insert and mark-scheme from AQA.

This is a PowerPoint I put together for preparing the READING section of paper 2, November 2022. The paper asks student to examine two texts about insomnia. It takes students through questions 1 - 4, focusing on question requirements and allowing them to practise key skills whilst familiarising them with the mark-scheme. Vocabulary from the exam and the mark-scheme is explored as well. There are tasks throughout and opportunities for peer assessment but the final question should be marked by the teacher. I am including the question paper, insert and mark-scheme from AQA.

This is a detailed PowerPoint taking students through the four reading question for the June 2020 AQA English Language paper 1 on The Silk Factory. It goes through the questions methodically, providing advice and model answers alongside mark schemes. There should be time given for students to try each question under timed conditions. Answers can then be peer assessed by partners and discussed as a class. I am including the question paper and insert along with a mark scheme that has a student-friendly version.

This is a PowerPoint, mark schemes with student friendly explanations and original exam papers for the 2017 question on ‘The Tiredness of Rosabel’ by Kathryn Mansfield. It covers Section A, question 1-4. I made the PP to thoroughly prepare students for answering the reading questions and it includes tasks, a student answer to discuss, and guidance for answering questions 2,3 and 4. Ideally, after working through the tasks, students respond to those questions under exam conditions. I am also including model answers. I always found it a successful resource in introducing the paper.

This is a detailed PowerPoint with accompanying documents to practise skills for GCSE Paper 1 reading questions. The PP takes students through questions 1-4 using mark schemes, advice and model answers. It is focused on achieving the top level of the mark-scheme (level 4) and uses self-assessment and peer-assessment. The package includes the PowerPoint, the extract and questions, a student handout and an extra structure worksheet.

Practice paper for GCSE English Language paper 1, section A. This uses the opening of ‘The Lovely Bones’ by Alice Sebold. It is a detailed PowerPoint, going through each question, giving guidance and techniques as well as setting tasks for students. It includes model paragraphs for highlighting (also included on a separate sheet) and detailed explanations of the markscheme using student friendly language. It focusses students on the requirements of the top band for each question. PP, model answers and question paper included.

This is a detailed PowerPoint taking students step-by-step through the reading section of paper 1 using the opening of Rebecca. It has detailed reference to the mark-scheme and assessment objectives, with hints and tips as well as key vocabulary. Students are asked to complete each section and then peer assess using mark-schemes. Also included is the actual paper (which does include a picture for question 5 although I haven’t referred to that in the PP) and a student copy of the model answers.

This is a PowerPoint I made to prepare students for section B of paper 2, writing to argue: Fast Fashion. It contains two media texts to analyse and use as style models as well as guidance and tasks to prepare students for writing the article. There is also some peer assessment using mark schemes which I’m including here along with the question paper and media texts. The whole thing could take two to three lessons, including the forty-five minute assessment.